Were You Sexually Abused By A Priest In The Diocese Of Norwich, Connecticut? We Can Help Now.
Our law firm provides free, confidential evaluations of clergy sexual abuse claims involving priests of the Diocese of Norwich. We have been handling clergy abuse cases for decades and have the experience you need to seek justice for what happened to you. Contact us today at 954-641-2100 or send an email to find out your legal options.
The Diocese of Norwich recently filed for Chapter 11 federal bankruptcy protection to resolve all outstanding claims of sexual abuse.
On July 15, 2021, the Diocese of Norwich quietly filed for Chapter 11 federal bankruptcy protection, citing the number of sexual abuse lawsuits and claims being filed against it, along with an anticipated change to the statute of limitations that would open the courthouse doors to more survivors of sexual abuse. The move comes after more than a half-dozen other Dioceses in New York and Pennsylvania have sought Chapter 11 protections in the last two years. The Norwich Diocese is the 31st Catholic institution to do so.
It is a common misconception that bankruptcy means that a survivor of sexual abuse has no more recourse for what happened to them. That is not true. It means the claim will be decided in a more streamlined process in the federal bankruptcy court. But a very strict filing deadline will apply once set by the Court; after that date (the “bar date”) the Diocese of Norwich will be immune from lawsuits in all but the most limited of circumstances forever.
It is very likely that the bankruptcy court will also consider claims filed by those sexually abused as adults and those who are now deceased.
The bankruptcy court will soon set a final bar date – the date by which all claims of sexual abuse must be filed with the Court or be forever barred – so it is important that you act today to protect your rights. Do not miss out on what is likely your very last chance for accountability for those who hurt you. Contact us today to discuss your options.
Through our own investigation, we identified 58 Catholic clergy accused of sexual misconduct in the Diocese of Norwich, and that number is expected to grow.
In February 2019, under immense public pressure, Bishop Michael Cote released a list of 43 clergy associated with the Norwich Diocese who he determined had been “credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors.” In 2020, Bishop Cote announced that he had commissioned a full, independent review of the Diocese of Norwich’s internal files to identify all clergy accused of sexual abuse in the last 70 years. Unlike the groundbreaking grand jury report published in neighboring Pennsylvania in late 2018, the Norwich Diocese investigation was authorized and controlled by the Diocese, not law enforcement. No reports have ever been published about the investigators’ findings.
Through our investigative efforts, we have identified a staggering 58 Catholic clergy assigned in the Diocese of Norwich who have been publicly accused of sexual misconduct. We believe it to be the most comprehensive list of accused clergy publicly available today. In many cases, the clergy listed below were the subject of multiple allegations or were moved to a new parish after allegations arose.
The accused clergy we have identified are:
- Br. Donald Alford (Christian Brothers)
- Fr. Robert W. Barnes
- Fr. Norbert Belliveau
- Fr. Bernard Bissonnette
- Fr. Kenneth Bonadies
- Fr. Normand Boulanger
- Fr. Joseph Buckley
- Fr. Richard Buongirno
- Fr. Salvatore Busca
- Fr. Dennis Carey
- Fr. Anthony Caron
- Fr. Santino Casimano
- Fr. Roger Comtois
- Fr. William Cullen (Jesuits)
- Fr. James Curry
- Br. Stephen DeMatteis (Franciscans)
- Fr. John Dority (Franciscans)
- Fr. Thomas J. Doyle (Marianists)
- Fr. Ivan Ferguson
- Fr. Edward Frigault
- Fr. Denis Galipeau
- Fr. Joseph Gorecki
- Fr. Roman Gromala
- Fr. Paul Hebert, Jr.
- Fr. Raymond Jean
- Fr. Donat Jette
- Fr. Stephan L. Johnson (Paulist Fathers)
- Fr. John Kozon
- Fr. Michael Krol
- Fr. James Liberty (Oblates)
- Fr. Felix Maguire
- Fr. Charles Many (Society of St. Edmund)
- Fr. Vincent Marino
- Fr. R. Thomas McConaghy
- Br. Paul McGlade (Christian Brothers)
- Fr. Edward McGrath (Salesians)
- Fr. Frank McManus (Jesuits)
- Fr. Peter Mitchell
- Fr. Joseph P. Murphy
- Fr. John C. Nash
- Fr. Eugene Orteneau (Jesuits)
- Fr. J. Lawrence Ouimet
- Fr. Joseph Owens (Jesuits)
- Fr. Louis Paturzo
- Fr. Robert Leo Pilkington (Dominicans)
- Fr. Donald Petraitis (Marian Fathers)
- Fr. Paul Pinard (Society of St. Edmund)
- Fr. Bruno Primavera
- Fr. John B. Ramsay
- Msgr. Edward Reardon
- Sr. Seraphina (Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth)
- Fr. Robert E. Shea
- Fr. Thomas W. Shea
- Fr. Eugene Solega
- Fr. George St. Jean (Oblates)
- Fr. Patrick J. Sullivan (Trappists)
- Fr. Paschal Thomas (Benedictines) (listed as “Thomas Paschal” by Diocese)
- Fr. Felix Werpechowski
Horowitz Law represents victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Norwich in Connecticut. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Connecticut, contact our office today. In July 2021, the Norwich Diocese filed for federal bankruptcy protection. The court will resolve all claims of sexual abuse in this process but strict filing deadlines will apply and no late claims will be considered, so contact us today. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Connecticut and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 954-641-2100 to discuss your options today.